Language Swap

On Wednesdays, the French department hosts a table at the Chimes (bar/restaurant right off campus). It's an informal get together that's meant to provide an opportunity to speak French outside of class. Most of the people that go seem to be grad students, instructors, or at least people in higher level French classes. It's somewhat intimidating to go and not be able to carry on a conversation. I've gone to a few meetings, hoping that it'll help with the listening comprehension. If nothing else, the sounds will at least be more familiar. I haven't been to more than two or three because it's right before my night class - a time usually consumed by writing the essay for the night class. But when I do go, awkwardness and lack of comprehension aside, it's a pretty good time. When I leave, I'm torn between languages. On one hand, I want to keep speaking French. It seems more natural to greet the next person I see in French than English. But on the other hand, once I can speak English again, I feel incredibly brilliant. I'm amazed at the complex ideas I'm able to convey so effortlessly in speech. With French, it's a real struggle to say what I ate for lunch. But switch back to English and suddenly there's this explosion of ability to communicate.